Data acquistion image analysis image manipulation interface

ABSTRACT

An interface apparatus for use with a computer system. The apparatus in the preferred embodiment having three concentric annular rings. The outer most of which is a solid ring, the two inner rings each being segmented into for equal arcs, which arcs form four pairs of two buttons each. The interface also has at its center two buttons. The interface is used to position an object for imaging and also to manipulate and position the image of an object for comparison and analysis. The two center buttons and the outside annular ring are used to generate signals to rotate an object or the image of the object in a common reference frame. The four pairs of arcs of the two inner concentric rings are used to generate signals for translational motion of the object or the image of the object. The four pairs of arcs being positioned to move the object or the image of the object in one of four perpendicular directions within the common reference frame. In a sub-operating state the outside periphery of the outer most solid ring can be made to represent the contours of the surface of an object and also to indicate which portions of the surface of that object have been imaged.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to interfaces for use on a visual display of acomputer system to allow an operator to interact with the computersystem. More specifically, it relates to an improved user friendlyinterface for use in an interactive environment which involves thepositioning of an object for imaging and also for analysis, comparisonand manipulation of the image of the object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The first personal computers had very crude and hard to use interfaceswhich in some instances amounted to knowing special codes which one thentyped into the computer. Since then, one of the driving forces in thedevelopment and improvement of computers has been the improvement of theuser interface. The trend has been to develop user friendly, intuitiveand generally graphical visually based interfaces. In fact, the successor failure of some products, in particular, software products, has beentheir user interfaces and how easy they made the product to master anduse. However, such a plethora of interfaces now exist that the user nowhas to often master a new interface for each new product or applicationencountered and used.

Thus, there is a continuing need to improve interfaces and make themeasier and more intuitive in their operation. Additionally, asignificant need exists to make interfaces with enough flexibility andcapacity to allow them to function with a fairly wide variety ofapplications but still retain their flexibility, intuitive feel andusefulness. One significant area in which this need exists in is imageacquisition and image analysis, comparison and manipulation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a user friendlygenerally intuitive interface for use with a computer system which hassufficient flexibility and adaptability to be used in a variety ofdifferent applications.

The object of the present invention is achieved by providing aninterface apparatus for manipulating a workpiece positionable bymovement means. The interface apparatus has a first annular controlmeans responsive to operator input for generating a rotational controlsignal for rotating said workpiece within a common reference frame and asecond annular control means responsive to operator input for generatinga translational motion control signal for movement of said workpiecewithin the common reference frame. The apparatus also has a command andcontrol mechanism to generate the specified control signals uponoperator input, transmit the control signals to said movement means andinitiate activity specified by the operator input. The apparatus in thisaspect of the invention allows the operator to position the workpiecefor at least one of the following imaging, analysis and comparison.

In another aspect of this invention, the interface apparatus has a thirdannular control means for generating a translational motion controlsignal, for movement of the workpiece within the reference frame,wherein the control signal generated by the second annular control meansmoves the workpiece in small increments and the signal generated by thethird annular control means moves the workpiece in large increments.

In another aspect of this invention the two annular control means of theinterface apparatus are concentric so that they share a common center.The interface apparatus has at the common center of the first and secondconcentric annular control means at least two activable buttons, thefirst button when activated rotates the work piece in a clockwisedirection and the second button when activated rotates the work piece ina counterclockwise direction.

In another aspect of this invention the second annular control means ofthe interface apparatus is segmented into four equal arcs, with each arcforming a separate button for directed motion, which on individualactivation of each button generates a control signal for movement of theworkpiece on a vector in a direction which is radially away from acommon center of the arcs and normal to a center of a peripheral outsideedge of the arc so activated, the arcs being so positioned that thedirection of a vector of any one arc is perpendicular to the directionof vectors of the two adjacent arcs when each is activated by operatorinput, and 180 degrees from the direction of a vector of an arc on theopposite side of the common center of the arcs when activated byoperator input. The interface apparatus includes a third annular ring,also segmented into four equal arcs, each arc so formed being pairedwith an arc of the second annular ring so that the paired arcs form twobuttons for movement of the workpiece along a vector in the samedirection, one of the arcs of each pair providing for small incrementalmovements of the workpiece and the other arc of each pair providing forlarge incremental movements of the workpiece.

In yet another aspect of this invention the control signal generated byoperator input at a selected spot on the second annular control meansmoves the workpiece within the common reference frame in a direction ofa vector radially away from a common center of the second annularcontrol means and normal to a tangent line formed at the closest pointon an outside periphery of the annular control means to the selectedspot on the second annular control means activated by operator input

In yet another aspect of the invention the command and control mechanismis a programmable computer with a visual display. The computer system ofthe invention being in functional communication with an imaging deviceand an object positioning device, the imaging device being placed inrelation to the object positioning device such that upon operator input,applied through the interface, the computer system can generate thenecessary control signal to position the object held by the objectpositioning device in a focal plane of the object imaging device so thatthe imaging device can focus on the object and transmit to the computerfor display on the visual display the image of that object so obtained.

In yet another aspect of this invention the first annular control meanscan be switched between a first operational state wherein it rotates anobject and a second operational state wherein contours of a surface ofthe object can be mapped to an outside periphery of the first annularcontrol means so that a representation of the contours of the surface ofthe object appears on the outside periphery of the first annular controlmeans. The second operation state maps those portions of the contours ofthe object which have been successfully imaged and stored in a memory bythe computer system. The object imaged in the preferred embodimentgenerally being a spent bullet and the first annular control means ofthe interface apparatus in the second operational state displays on itsoutside periphery contours of land engraved areas of the bulletsuccessfully imaged and stored by the computer in a memory.

In yet another aspect of this invention, the workpiece is an image of areference object and an image of a test object and the computer systemcan then simultaneously, display on the visual display, an image of atest object and an image of a reference object and operator inputapplied through the interface can switch the computer system betweenthree different image analysis states, a first state for manipulatingthe image of the test object, a second state for manipulating the imageof the reference object and a third state for manipulating the combinedimages of the test object and the reference object. When the interfaceis in the third state, the image of the test object and the referenceobject are joined together on the visual display in an overlappingconfiguration with the visible portions of the image of the referenceobject and the image of the test object separated by a line ofseparation, the line of separation being manipulated by operator inputmeans. Operator input to manipulate the line of separation, while theinterface is in the third state, causes the line of separation to rotateabout a central point, which as it rotates, it successively revealsdifferent portions of the overlapped images of the test object and theimage of the reference object so that the operator can compare andanalyze them.

In yet another aspect of this invention, the first annular control meanshas an operator actionable marker, which masker, as the operator movesit around the first annular ring generates the signal which causes theworkpiece to rotate in the same direction through the same angulardistance as the marker is moved, by the operator, on the first annularcontrol means.

In yet another aspect of this invention the operator activates theinterface with a pointing device. The pointing device can be: a mouse,track ball, touch pad, light pen and PC styles. Alternatively, theoperator can activate the various parts of the interface with a touchsensitive screen.

According to the invention, there is also provided a method for acomputer system to manipulate objects and images which includes thesteps of:

generating an actionable interface for a visual display with at leasttwo annular control means: the first annular control means, whenactivated, generates a control signal of rotational motion which rotatesa workpiece within a reference frame, the second annular control means,when activated, generates a control signal of translational motion whichmoves the workpiece within the reference frame;

moving a workpiece within the reference frame to a desired location inthat reference frame, with the control signal of translational motiongenerated by activating the second annular control means;

rotating the workpiece within the reference frame to a desired angularorientation with the control signal of rotational motion generated byactivating the first annular control means; and

conducting at least one of the following imaging, analysis andcomparison.

The method of the invention preferably includes one or more of theadditional steps of generating the first and second annular controlmeans such that they are concentric and thus share a common center.Generating a third annular control means which shares the common centerwith the first and second annular control means, wherein activation ofthe third annular control means generates a signal of translationalmotion which moves the workpiece in large increments and the signal oftranslational motion generated by activation of the second annularcontrol means moves the work piece in small increments.

Another alternative aspect of the method of this invention involvesgenerating a control signal by operator input at a selected spot on thesecond annular control means which moves the workpiece in the directionof a vector pointing radially away from a center of the second annularcontrol means and normal to a line tangent to a point on an outsidecircumference of the second annular control means which point is theclosest point on the outside periphery to the selected spot.

In yet another alternative aspect of the method of this invention thestep of generating the interface includes segmenting the second annularcontrol means into four equal arcs, with each arc forming a separatebutton for directed motion, which on individual activation of eachbutton generates a control signal for movement of the workpiece on avector in a direction which is radially away from a common center of thearcs, said vector being normal to the center of the peripheral outsideedge of the arc so activated, the arcs being so positioned that thedirection of the vector of any one arc being perpendicular to thedirection of the vectors of the two adjacent arcs and 180 degrees fromthe direction of the vector of the arc on the opposite of the commoncenter. This alternative aspect can include the additional step ofgenerating a third concentric annular control means which shares thecommon center with the second annular control means, the third annularcontrol means being segmented into four equal arcs, each arc so formedby the third annular control means being paired with an arc of thesecond annular control means so that the paired arcs form two buttonsfor movement of the workpiece along a vector in the same direction, oneof the arcs of each pair providing for small incremental movements ofthe workpiece and the other arc of each pair providing for largeincremental movements of the workpiece. The method of this invention canalso include generating two buttons at the common center of the annularcontrol means, one of said buttons upon operator activation rotates theworkpiece in a clockwise direction and the other button on operatoractivation rotates the workpiece in a counterclockwise direction.

In yet another aspect of the method of this invention it can includeswitching between two operating modes, a first mode for imageacquisition and second for image analysis, comparison and manipulation.The step of operating in the first operating mode comprises manipulatingwith the interface a workpiece which is both an object and an image ofthat object, the image of the object so manipulated appearing on thevisual display. In the step of operating in the second operating modethe workpiece is an image of a reference object and an image of a testobject and the step of operating in the second operating mode includessimultaneously displaying on the visual display the image of the testobject and the image of the reference object, and a further step,switching the interface in the second operating mode between threedifferent states, a first state for manipulating he image of the testobject, a second state for manipulating the image of the referenceobject and a third state for manipulating a combined image of the testobject and the reference object. The step of operating in the firstoperating mode can also include the step of selecting one of twodifferent states to operate in: a first state for acquisition of animage of a cartridge case and a second state of the first operating modefor acquisition of images of the land engraved areas of a spent bulletThe step of operating in the second state includes the step of mappingto the first annular control means a representation of each landengraved area successfully imaged.

In another aspect of the invention it provides a method of displayingcontours of a surface of an object, the method comprising the steps of:providing an interface with a peripheral surface; obtaining positionalinformation on contours of said surface of said object; and alteringsaid interfaces peripheral surface to display said information on thecontours of portions of said object.

In yet another aspect of this method the step of obtaining theinformation on the contours of said surface of said object comprisesscanning the surface of said object and generating a mathematicalfunction approximating said surface of said object.

In yet another aspect of this method the step of altering saidinterfaces peripheral surface comprises: altering the peripheral surfaceof said interface apparatus with the information from said mathematicalfunction.

In yet another aspect of this method it includes the additional step ofimaging selected portions of said surface of said object and indicatingon the peripheral surface of said interface which portions of saidsurface of said object have been imaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by an examination of thefollowing description, together with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of the essential features of the presentinvention;

FIG. 1A depicts an object being manipulated by the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of a screen display which implements the interface ofthe present invention with other visual interfaces;

FIG. 3 provides a schematic of a system with which the screen display inFIG. 2 would be used;

FIG. 4A provides an alternate arrangement for the interface of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4B provides a second alternate version of the interface of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4C provides a third alternate version of the interface of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4D provides a view of a portion of FIG. 4B;

FIG. 5 is part of a flow chart of one system which incorporates theinterface of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is the rest of flow chart of the system of FIG. 5 whichincorporates the interface of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is another screen display which implements the interface of thepresent invention with other visual interfaces;

FIG. 8 provides a schematic of a system with which the screen display inFIG. 7 would be used;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a spent bullet;

FIG. 10A is a view of the interface of the present invention in one ofits implementations;

FIG. 10B is another view of the interface of the present invention aftercompletion of the implementation in 10A;

FIG. 11 is a view of a screen display which incorporates the interfaceof the present invention in a cartridge case analysis mode;

FIG. 11A depicts the window activity indicator when the window with thetest image is active;

FIG. 11B depicts the window activity indicator when the window with thereference image is active;

FIG. 11C depicts the window activity indicator when both the referenceimage and the test image are combined in one window are overlapped witha line of reference indicating the boundaries between the images;

FIG. 12 is a view of a screen display of another implementation of theinterface of the present invention in a cartridge case analysis mode;

FIG. 13 is a view of a screen display which incorporates the presentinvention in a spent bullet analysis mode in which the image of the testand reference bullets occupy their own windows;

FIG. 13A present invention in a spent bullet analysis mode in which theimage of the test and reference bullets are combined in an overlappingmode in the same window with the images separated by a line ofseparation;

FIG. 14A is a view of an end of a spent bullet fragment;

FIG. 14B is an interface of the present invention with the scannedcontour of the spent bullet fragment mapped to its first annular ring;

FIG. 14C is the interface of FIG. 14B with an indication of those areassuccessfully imaged;

FIG. 15 is an operative schematic view of the present inventionpresented in the drawings and description herein; and

FIG. 15A is a portion of the operative schematic view of FIG. 15 of thepresent invention with the various parts of the interface of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention represented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Overview of theInvention

The interface 21 of the present invention appears on visual display 41in FIG. 1. Visual display 41 generally being a computer screen such as aCRT, liquid crystal display or any similar device which provides theuser of a computer with a visual display. The appropriately configuredsoftware, which will be discussed below, would generate directional dialinterface 21 on visual display 41 and allow the operator of the computer48 to interact with the computer 48 in the manner which will shortly bedescribed.

The computer system depicted in FIG. 1 includes a computer 48, connectedby a video bus 53 to visual display 41. The computer in turn has akeyboard 49 connected to it as well as pointing device 43, in theexample, a mouse, by cable 52. The computer system would be running theappropriate software which generates the image of the interface 21 amongother things. In fact, as will be noted in more detail below, given thecurrent state of development of software once the configuration and modeof the present invention is described a knowledgeable software writercould compose the necessary software in a variety of different ways toachieve the effect and purpose of the present invention.

The directional dial interface 21 in the preferred embodiment has threeannular rings 24, 26 and 28 with a common center 29. The first annularring 24, which is the outermost of the three, is an unbroken ring. Thesecond annular ring 26 is the innermost one and in the preferredembodiment is sectioned into four separate buttons 30N, 30E, 30S, and30W. The third annular ring 28 lies between the first ring 24 and thesecond ring 26 and like ring 26 in the preferred embodiment is sectionedinto four separate buttons 32N, 32E, 32S, and 32W. The common center 29has two triangular buttons 37 and 39.

All of the buttons of directional dial interface 21 have a specificgeneral function which allow the computer operator to move andmanipulate the spatial position of an image of an object in a specificframe of reference. This frame of reference is in fact the visualdisplay 41 on which the image of the object appears. The image of anobject 45 provides one example of an image which can be manipulated withthe interface of the present invention. Although the screen itself istwo dimensional, as is well known in the art, a visual display candepict an image of an object in three dimensions and the interface couldbe configured to handle such object manipulation. Additionally, althoughthe operator may be manipulating an image of an object on the visualdisplay, in actuality, the operator could be manipulating an image of anobject previously taken and stored for later use or the image of anobject being viewed in real time. If the operator is viewing an image ofan object in real time (i.e. the operator views the image of an objectas it is actually being taken) the system can be configured such thateach manipulation of the image being viewed could result in acorresponding movement of the object. The object, being in anothercorresponding reference frame, where it is being viewed by anappropriate imaging device 63 FIG. 3. The other or secondary referenceframe being the focal plane of the imaging device 63. The primaryreference frame being the visual display. The imaging device 63 which istransmitting the image of the object so viewed to the computer 48 forimaging on the screen 61 could be any number of cameras or a chargedcoupled device (CCD) which are well known in the art. One such setup isdepicted in FIG. 3 and will be discussed again below. Hereon in the term“workpiece” can refer to both the image of an object or the objectitself when being imaged.

The buttons of directional dial interface 21FIG. 1 in the preferredembodiment would be activated by the computer operator using a pointingdevice 43. Item 43 in FIG. 1 is a standard two button mouse. As is wellknown in the art, the mouse has at least one button. However, in mostinstances the mouse has two and sometimes three buttons. One of thebuttons, generally the left button 43A, is the primary activatingbutton. Mouse 43 has a corresponding cursor 47 generated on visualdisplay 41 by the appropriate and commonly available software which iswell known in the art. The operator moves the pointing device 43, abouton a flat surface, in this case pad 51. Each move of the pointing device43, as is well known by those who use them, results in a correspondingmove of the pointing device cursor 47 on visual display 41. This allowsthe operator to position the pointing device cursor 47 at any positionon visual display 41 in a few moves of the pointing device 43. Forexample, by making the appropriate moves of pointing device 43 on pad 51the cursor 47 could be easily moved to position 47A, 47B, 47C or anyother position on the visual display. When pointing device cursor 47, invisual display 41, is placed on one of the buttons of directional dialinterface 21 and the appropriate button on the pointing device 43 ispushed, movement of the workpiece in this case image 45 is initiated.The actual direction of movement depends on which button of directionaldial interface 21 is activated by the pointing device 43. The actualspecific directions in which directional dial interface 21 moves image45 will be discussed in detail below.

Although, the example herein uses a mouse as the pointing device it iswell known in the art that other pointing devices would work as well asa mouse among them being: track balls, touch sensitive pads, light pensetc. Since these devices are now commonly used by anyone who uses apersonal computer, and they are used in the standard fashion with theinvention, there is no need to describe how they would work. Also, it iswell known in the art how one would implement the use of such deviceswith computer hardware and software in a standard fashion without theneed for any experimentation. It will also be readily perceived by thoseskilled in the art that a touch sensitive visual display or screen couldbe used for activation of the buttons of the directional dial interface21. Such a touch sensitive screen could be activated by a human hand orstylus designed for such activity.

Returning to the directional dial interface 21, depicted in FIG. 1, thebuttons of the second annular ring 26 and the third annular ring 28,when appropriately activated, provide for translational moves of theworkpiece. In the preferred embodiment the eight buttons of annularrings 26 and 28 for purposes of description, can be thought to move theworkpiece in the directions equivalent to the four points of thecompass. Thus we shall designate the four sides of the visual display 41as follows: the top as north (N), the bottom as south (S), the left sideas west (W) and the right side as east A). Thus, buttons 30N and 32Nwould move image 45 north on the screen, buttons 30S and 32S would moveimage 45 south on the screen, buttons 30W and 32W move image 45 west onthe screen and buttons 30E and 32E move image 45 east on the screen. Thebuttons of the second annular ring 26 namely 30N, 30S, 30W and 30E wouldmove image 45 in small increments in their respective directions ofmotion. On the other hand the buttons of the third annular ring 28namely 32N, 32S, 32W and 32E move image 45 in large increments in theirrespective directions of motion. Naturally, if the operator is viewingthe image of an object in real time the initiation of movements of theimage on the screen with appropriate hardware and software would resultin corresponding movements of the object being imaged in its referenceframe, generally the focal plane of an imaging device.

The system of the present invention, through the use of well knownsoftware and hardware devices and techniques, allows the operator to setthe speed and distance each button of the second and third annularrings: 30N, 30S, 30E, 30W, 32N, 32S, 32E and 32W move the image 45 onthe visual display 41. For example, the operator could set inner annularring buttons 30N, 30S, 30E and 30W to move the workpiece or image 45 insmall increments of about a millimeter for each click of the pointingdevice button 43A when the pointing device cursor 47 is placed on it.The operator could also configure the system such that when the pointingdevice cursor is placed on one of these buttons, 30N, 30S, 30E and 30W,and the pointing device button is held down for more then two secondsthe image 45 moves at a rate of one millimeter every fifth of a second.Likewise, the operator could set the buttons of the middle ring 32N,3SS, 32E and 32W, on activation, to move the image 45 in centimeterincrements on the screen with each click of the pointing device button43A while the pointing device cursor 47 is on the button activated.Additionally, the operator could provide for continuous movement ofimage 45 on depression of one of these buttons, 32N, 32S, 32E and 32W,for more than two seconds etc.

Thus it can be seen that the buttons of translational motion moves theimage of the object 45 in a direction in which the arrows point on eachof the respective buttons point. Each of the pairs of east, west, northand south buttons are in orthogonal relationship to the adjacent buttonswith respect to the direction in which they move the image 45. Each pairof buttons moves image 45 in a direction 180 degrees to the pair ofbuttons on the opposite side of the common center 29.

Each of the buttons: pair 30N and 32N, pair 30S and 32S, pair 30E and32E, and pair 30W and 32W could be considered to have an associatedvector of motion equivalent to the arrows which appear on each in thedirectional dial interface 21. The direction of each vector being thedirection the arrows point on each button. Buttons 30E and 32E move theimage 45 in the direction of a vector pointing in the east direction onthe screen which is at right angles i.e. orthogonal to the directionalvector of the adjacent pairs of buttons, pair 30N and 32N and pair 30Sand 32S, moves object 45. Button pair 30W and 32W, on the other side ofthe common center 29 from button pair 30E and 32E, move the image in thedirection of a vector pointing to the west direction. The direction ofthe vector of pair 30W and 32W being 180 degrees from the direction ofthe vector of direction of pair 30E and 32E. Likewise, for each pair ofbuttons, as you move around the circle, buttons 30N and 32N move object45 in the direction of a vector pointing to the north on the screen andbutton pair 32S and 30S moves image 45 in the direction of a vectorpointing to the south.

By moving image 45 in any one of the four primary directions theappropriate number of times and in the proper sequence the operator canreposition image 45 anywhere in the reference frame on the screen. Forexample, assume the operator wanted to move image 45 to position 45A theoperator could accomplish this transition with two moves, one in theeast direction by activating buttons 30E or 32E and one in the southdirection by activating button 30S or 32S. In fact, one potentiallycould move image 45 to any position in the visual display 41 with nomore than two moves.

First annular ring 24 in the preferred embodiment surrounds the entireinterface 21 forming its outer boundary. First annular ring 24 providesone means to rotate image 45. One activates annular ring 24 by movingmouse cursor 47 to the position 47C and placing the mouse cursor 47 onring marker 34 of the first annular ring 24. Once mouse cursor 47 isplaced on ring marker 34 the operator then clicks on the appropriatebutton on the mouse 43 and holds that button down and drags ring marker34 around annular ring 24 which results in a corresponding rotationalmovement of image 45. In FIG. 1, assuming the axis of rotation of image45 is at its center, moving ring marker 34 by the above method fromposition 56A to 56B results in a corresponding movement of image 45.Thus point 56AA on image 45 moves to position 56BB. The axis of rotationabout which image 45 rotates is selected by default as the center of theimage as initially acquired. However, as depicted in FIG. 1A theoperator can change the axis about which the image 45 rotates by movingthe cursor 47 to the appropriate position such as point 57, for thepurposes of this example, and clicking on the appropriate mouse buttonThus, if ring marker 34 is moved from point 56A to 56B with the axis ofrotation at point 57 in FIG. 1A image 45 rotates to new position 45B.

Referring back to FIG. 1 center buttons 37 and 39 provide another meansto initiate rotational motion of object 45. One of the buttons, such as37, when activated by moving pointing device, cursor 47, to button 37and depressing the appropriate pointing device button 43A rotates image45 in a clockwise direction and the other button 39, when activatedrotates it in a counter clockwise direction. In the preferredembodiment, each click of button 37 or 39 rotates the image in onedegree increments. Additionally, by holding down button 37 or 39 formore than one or two seconds the image 45 rotates at a steady andmoderate pace for as long as the cursor 47 remains on button 37 or 39and the appropriate pointing device button, i.e. 43A or 43B, isdepressed. The two center buttons 37 and 39 thus serve as the fineadjustments of angular positioning in the system of this invention andfirst annular ring provides for substantial and quick adjustments.

Alternative Interface Configurations

The interface of the present invention can take on differentconfigurations and not depart from the fundamental concept of intuitivefunctionality it provides. The directional dial interface 21 could takeon the configuration shown in FIG. 4A where the four pairs of buttonspoint towards the four points of a compass. The buttons are activated inthe manner, as noted above, through use of a pointing device wherein thescreen cursor 47 is placed over the arrow buttons 30 (N, S, E and W) or32 (N, S, E and W) and clicked. Each of the pairs of buttons having thesame function as described above with respect to movement.

Another alternative configuration is to segment the third and secondannular rings into more segments such as depicted in FIG. 4C. As shown,FIG. 4C the second and third annular rings are segmented into eightarcs. This results in eight sets of two buttons for a total of eightdirections or compass points the image of the object, or the objectitself, can be moved in within the frame of reference with only oneclick of the pointing device. For example, buttons 32NO and 30NO wouldmove the image on visual display 41 in a northwest direction between thedirection of button pairs 30W and 32W and 30N and 32N.

In another alternative, as depicted in FIG. 4B, the second annular ring72 and third annular ring 73 could be presented as solid rings. Hereagain the second annular ring 72 and third annular rings 73 would stillbe used for transitional movement of the object However, clicking themouse cursor 47 on a section of the second annular ring 72 or thirdannular ring 73 would cause the image to move in a direction normal to aline tangent to the point on the outside curvature 80 which is closestto the spot on the ring clicked. For example, the computer operatorwould place the pointing device cursor 47 at spot 78, click and movementof the image in the frame of reference would occur in the direction ofvector 79, a direction normal to the outside curvature or periphery 80of the ring so activated, in this instance the third ring 73. The secondring could be for small incremental movements and the third ring wouldstill be for large movements. FIG. 4D depicts a portion of annular ring73 from FIG. 4B, specifically that portion around point 78. As can beseen thereon vector 79 is normal to tangent line 77. Tangent line 77 istangent at point 76 on the outside periphery of annular ring 73. Tangentpoint 76 is the closest point on the outside curvature or periphery 80of annular ring 73 to spot 78, the spot clicked by the operator toinitiate movement of the image.

Other Uses

As mentioned above, the invention includes the feature of allowing theoperator to control the positioning of an object in real time throughuse of directional dial interface 21. The purpose of positioning theobject could be for obtaining an image for storage and later analysis,to work on the object positioned or for the handling of toxic ordangerous materials in a secure area removed from the operator. FIG. 3shows a system set up to position an object 65 for imaging. Computer 48using the appropriate software controls, the screen 61, as well asoptical Imaging device 63 and positioning stage 64 for this system.Technologies including hardware and software for implementing andcontrolling such devices are well known in the art. The operator wouldexercise control through keyboard 49 and pointing device 43. FIG. 2shows the directional dial interface 21 of the present inventionintegrated on interface 41A with various other interface devices to forman extended system. The interface system of interface 41A would thenappear on screen 61. However, the additional interface apparatuses arenot essential for practicing the present invention.

The operator through use of directional dial interface 21, in the mannerdescribed above, would then position the object 65 in the appropriateposition for imaging. Use of directional dial interface 21, in themanner described above, would result in movement of object 65 to theappropriate position through instructions sent by computer 48 topositioning stage 64. The operator could also control the brightness ofthe object by slide 71 and focus of the optical device 63 by slide 70.Both interface device 71 and 70 are well known in the art as well astechniques for control and use of optical devices such as 63, which notonly has a standard optical imaging device, it also has the appropriatemeans to transmit the image viewed, in a form, which can be displayed onscreen 61. As noted above the system has a common reference frame. Theimage acquisition process Is made up of two parts. The visual displayprovides the primary reference frame and the focal plane of the imagingdevice provides the secondary reference frame.

The operator on screen 61 would then view the image so captured asdepicted in window 74 on interface 41A. The signal transmitted byoptical device 63 could either be an analog or a digital signal.Suitable apparatus and techniques well known in the art could be used.In the preferred embodiment the imaging device 63 would include acharged coupled device (CCD) well known in the art. This transmits adigitalized signal of that image. After making the appropriateadjustments to obtain an optimal image, as described above, the operatorcould instruct the system, by activating button 75, to save the image toa storage device, not specifically shown, but which would be part of thecomputer system 48 and certainly well known in the art. The image soobtained could be saved as a file in the usual manner and held for laterretrieval and use.

Various Modes and States of Operation

The invention has been described in fairly general terms up to thispoint. The following description will discuss implementation of theinvention in a system which takes images of objects, stores those imagesand subsequently uses those images for comparison and analysis withother similarly obtained images. The Integrated BallisticsIdentification System or IBIS of Forensic Technology provides a stilldeveloping system for automated and systematized forensic ballisticsanalysis. The system relies in part on computers and thus control andoperation would be significantly enhanced with user friendly interfacesamong other things. A number of patents have issued relating todifferent aspects of this automated forensic ballistics analysis systemsuch as the following: U.S. patents: “Method And Apparatus ForMonitoring And Adjusting The Position Of An Article Under OpticalObservation” U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,106; “Computer Automated BulletAnalysis Apparatus” U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,108; “Method For Monitoring AndAdjusting The Position Of An Object Under Optical Observation ForImaging” U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,717; “Fired Cartridge Examination MethodAnd lavaging Apparatus” U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,801; And “Method AndApparatus For Obtaining A Signature From A Fired Bullet” U.S. Pat. No.5,659,489. All of these patents are incorporated herein by reference.

An overview of the implementation of the directional dial interface ofthe present invention in the IBIS ballistics analysis system will bediscussed with the aid of flow charts. Then specific implementations ofthe directional dial interface in the IBIS ballistics analysis systemwill be reviewed. FIG. 5 and 6 provide flow charts with the majorfunctional elements of the current preferred embodiment of the systemwhich uses the directional dial interface of the present invention. Onlyso much of this system will be described, as is necessary, to understandthe fill capacity and functionality of the directional dial interface.

First the program is activated, 79FIG. 5, and then the operating mode 80is selected. The system has two operating modes, image acquisition mode90 and image comparison, analysis and manipulation mode 81 FIG. 6. Ifthe image acquisition mode is selected, then one of two sub-modes mustbe selected, either the sub-mode for acquisition of the image of acartridge case 91 or the sub-mode for acquisition of the image of aspent bullet 93. If the sub-mode for acquisition of the image of thecartridge case 91 is selected then directional dial interface 21 isgenerated on the visual display together with the rest of the workinginterface. Starting the sub-mode for acquisition of images of thecartridge case 91, in the preferred embodiment, only activates thebuttons of transitional motion 92. On the other hand, staring thesub-mode for acquisition of images of the spent bullet 93 activates notonly the buttons of translational motion 94, it also activates a uniquesub-state which uses the first annular ring which will be described indetail below. Briefly, this sub-state assists in assuring that theoperator has successfully obtained images of the land engraved areas ona spent bullet being imaged. As the operator rotates the spent bulletimaging the land engraved areas on the spent bullet those portionssuccessfully imaged are mapped as depressions to the first annular ring.This allows the operator to keep track of what has been imaged and knowwhen all of the land engraved areas on the spent bullet have beenimaged.

After activation of the program 79 the operator also has the option ofstarting the image comparison, analysis and manipulation mode 81. Thendepending on whether or not the operator wants to compare previouslyacquired images of spent bullets or shells he selects either the spentbullet comparison, analysis and manipulation sub mode 82 or thecartridge case analysis, comparison and manipulation sub mode 84. If thespent bullet comparison and analysis sub mode 82 is selected thedirectional dial interface 21 is generated on the screen. Interface 21appears on the screen with the other related interfaces, but only itsbuttons of translational movement are activated.

If the cartridge case analysis mode 84FIG. 6 has been selected aftergeneration of the directional dial interface 21 and the other relatedinterfaces of the system have been generated 85 then the buttons oftranslational and rotational motion are activated. However, the operatormust still select a state to operate in from a choice of three possibleoperational states available in the cartridge case analysis mode. In thecartridge case analysis mode, the operator usually has two images on thescreen to work with, one is an image of a reference object which will becompared to another image, the image of a test object Both images are ofspent cartridge cases and the purpose is for comparison, to determine ifa match exists, such as, were both fired from the same firearm. Thus,the operator can switch into the image of the reference objectmanipulation sub-state 87 to move the reference image around. Theoperator can then switch to the image of the test object manipulationsub-state 88 to move the test image around Finally, the operator canswitch to an image comparison sub-state 89 which joins both images asone image separated by a line of separation. As will be discussed indetail below half of each image, such as half of the image of the testobject and half of the image of the reference object, appears togetherseparated by a line of separation. Rotation of the line of separation,as described below about a central axis progressively reveals differentportions of each image so the both can be compared simultaneously.

Detailed Implementation

As noted above, after selection of the spent bullet image acquisitionsub mode 93FIG. 5 the program generates the directional dial interface21 on the screen together with the associated interfaces and activatesthe interface 94. FIG. 8 depicts schematically the basic components ofthe spent bullet image acquisition system. The system includes a screen61 connected to an appropriately programmed computer 48. The operatorcontrols the computer with keyboard 49 and pointing device 43 in theusual manner. The computer in turn controls optical imaging device 63and spent bullet holding and positioning stage 108. The operator thuscan position the spent bullet 107 to take appropriate images as will bedescribed shortly. Various components of this system are described indetail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,379,106; 5,390,108; and 5,659,489 which werediscussed above and incorporated herein by reference.

The spent bullet 108 being imaged appears in FIG. 9. The spent bullet,generally made of lead or copper, after being forced down the barrel ofgun by the explosion of the gun powder has etched thereon land engravedareas 109. The rifling in a gun barrel consists of spiral alternatinggrooves and raised areas, called land areas. It is well known that gunrifling, a feature used for at least the last 100 to 200 years, impartsa spin to the bullet as it travels down the barrel and in so doing addsincredible stability to the spent bullet on leaving the barrel. Thisstability in turn substantially increases the range and accuracy of thebullet fired from the gun. It has also been known since at least thefirst part of the twentieth century that the land areas of each gun whenthey etch the land engraved areas (LEA) on a spent bullet, also leaveunique markings or striations which can identify the gun from which thespent bullet was fired.

Referring to FIG. 8 the operator will successively obtain images of eachLEA on spent bullet 107 as it is rotated in spent bullet holder 108. Thedirectional dial interface 21FIG. 7 provides the operator with the meansof keeping track of the images of the LEA's as he or she rotates thespent bullet taking the images. The operator actually views a magnifiedimage of the LEA in window 99 in interface 98. Interface 98 appears onscreen 61 FIG. 8. The operator picks out a shoulder 110FIG. 9 at thebeginning of a LEA 109 and marks it with mouse cursor 47FIG. 7, theoperator then activates reference mark 35 on the directional dial 21making it correspond to the first shoulder on the spent bullet Theoperator then rotates the spent bullet 107 in holder 108 moving down theLEA taking appropriate images of it and stops at the shoulder 110 on theopposite side of the LEA 109. Once the operator has successfullyacquired an image or images of that LEA an indentation 111FIG. 10Aappears on the outside of the first annular ring 24. Thus, the operatorslowly rotates the spent bullet in holder 108 and successively obtainsimages of each LEA. Indentations 112FIG. 10A and 10B and indentations113, 114, 115 and 116 on FIG. 10B represent each successive LEAsuccessfully imaged by the operator. This feature allows the operator tokeep track of each LEA successfully imaged. It will be readily seen thatthis feature also has broader application to situations where one has toimage the surface of a cylinder or note distinguishing features on thesurface.

Referring back to FIG. 7, the other functions of the directional dialinterface 21 remain the same. The buttons of translational motion 30(N,E, S and W) and 32 N, E, S and W ) perform the same function and allowthe operator to move the image about to optimally position it forimaging. Likewise, rotational buttons 37 and 39 allow the operator toadjust the angular relationship of the image to the viewing window 99 toalso help optimize the image obtained.

If the operator selects the cartridge case imaging sub-mode 91 and92FIG. 5 the program generates the overall interface which appears inFIG. 2. Schematically the basic functional parts of this imageacquisition system appears in FIG. 3. The system as it appears in FIG. 3and the overall interface 41A of FIG. 2 have already been described indetail above as they relate to the directional dial interface 21. U.S.Pat. No. 5,654,801 identified and incorporated herein by referencesdiscloses a cartridge case examination and imaging method and apparatuswhich would work with the system.

If the operator selects the cartridge case image comparison n, analysisand manipulation mode 84 and 65FIG. 6 interface 126FIG. 11 would appearon the visual display. The Initial display besides having the interfacefeatures depicted including the directional dial interface 21 of thepresent invention has two separate windows, window 127 which has theimage of the test object 122, in this case the cartridge case underexamination and window 128 which has the reference object 121, anothercartridge case image, to which the test object 122 is to be compared.The operator has the option of making either window 128 or 127 active byplacing the cursor 47 of the system pointing device on button 130 anddepressing the left pointing device button. By making either window 127or 128 active, the operator can then manipulate the image in the activewindow with directional dial 21. Thus as discussed in detail above,translational buttons 30 (N, E, S and W) and 32 (N, e, S and W) wouldallow the operator to move the image of the object around as describedabove. Likewise, the operator could rotate the object with centralbuttons 37 and 39 or with the first annular ring 24 in the mannerdescribed above to place the object in the active window in the properangular orientation. Indicator 124 tells the operator which window isactive. In the preferred embodiment when window 127 is active indicator124 is clear or lightly shaded 124A FIG. 11A. If window 128 is activethen indicator 124 is dark in color 124B as depicted in FIG. 11B. Theoperator can also put the system into a third state as depicted in FIG.12. If the operator puts the system into this third state indicator 124is halt dark and half light 124C FIG. 11C.

In the preferred embodiment the directional dial 21 is also utilized inthe analysis submode 82 for movement of the spent bullet image invertical and the horizontal direction. FIG. 13 depicts how the overallinterface appears in this mode with the directional dial 21 implementedfor use to supplement the system. The buttons of translational movement30 and 32 (N, E, S and W) on dial 21 move the image of the referenceimage 161 in window 168 or the image of the test object 162 in window169 depending on which of the two windows 168 or 169 is active. Whenwindow 169 is active and the test image 162 can be manipulated activityindicator 124 is clear 124A FIG. 11A. When window 168 is active and thereference image 161 can be manipulated then activity indicator 124 isdark 124B FIG. 11B. When window 168 is active the system is in thereference image substrate 83B FIG. 6 of the spent bullet analysis mode.When window 169 is active the system is in the test image substrate 83CFIG. 6 of the spent bullet analysis mode.

The reference image 161 and the test image 162 can also be combined inone window as depicted in FIG. 13A. There the images are overlapped withthe images separated by a line of separation 160. The line of separationcan be moved horizontally back and forth with buttons 30E, 32E, 30 W and32W. The line of separation can also be moved back and forth by placingcursor 47 on it and dragging the line 160 back and forth By moving theline of separation back and forth the operator can successively revealdifferent portions of each spent bullet. Moving the line of separation160 to the left would reveal more of test image 162 and cover-up part of161. On the other hand moving line of separation 160 to the right wouldreveal more of reference image 161 and cover up portions of test image162. When the images are combined in one window as depicted in FIG. 13Aactivity indicator 124 is half dark and half light as depicted by 124CFIG. 11C. When the images of the test and reference spent bullets 161and 162 are combined as depicted in FIG. 13A in this overlapping modethe system is in the combined image comparison substrate 83D of thespent bullet analysis mode.

On FIGS. 13 and 13A appears virtual thumb wheel 163 which an operator ofthe system uses to stretch or compress the images of the spent bulletsdisplayed on the screen ring the image analysis mode. In the preferredembodiment the thumb wheel 163 is only used with the spent bullet imageanalysis mode 82 FIG. 6. One positions the mouse cursor 47 on the wheel163 generally at its center and moves the cursor 47 up or down onvirtual thumb wheel 163. In the preferred embodiment when the operatormoves the cursor 47 up on the thumb wheel 163 the image in the activewindow stretches out in a uniform and proportional manner along thevertical axis of the image so that its individual features can be moreeasily studied. When one moves the cursor down on the thumb wheel itcompresses the image in the active window. Compression occurs in auniform and proportional manner for the image along the vertical axis ofthe image. In the preferred embodiment compression and stretching of theimage occurs in a uniform manner only in one dimension, along thevertical axis of the image which is generally perpendicular to thedirection of the land engraved areas on the image of the spent bullet.However, if necessary the apparatus could be adapted to stretch theimage in more than one direction. This stretching or sizing apparatuscontrolled by thumb wheel 163 aids in analysis of spent bullets whichhave been deformed to some extent on impact after firing but thestriations left on the land engraved areas can still be observed andanalyzed. To return the image to its original dimensions the operatormerely clicks twice on the center of the thumb wheel 163. The operatorcan switch between the two windows 168 and 169 by clicking twice on thewindow to be activated or by clicking twice on the on indicator 124which successively cycles the system through each of the three substates 83B, 83C and 83D.

Reference was made above to the IBAS system and patents which relate tothat system. A discussion then ensued in general terms which describedhow the present invention related to the IBAS system and the identifiedand incorporated various US patents with specific reference to the useof those patents. Another application involving one of those patentswill now be discussed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,717 mentioned above andincorporated by reference herein describes an apparatus and method forscanning and then imaging an object. The '717 provides for an initialscan of the object, in the preferred embodiment, a spent bullet toobtain a mathematical function approximating the surface scanned. Itcreates this function by measuring the distance between the surface ofthe spent bullet or object being imaged and the camera or imagingdevice. The practice of the '717 invention then uses this information tocalculate a mathematical function of the surface contours of thatportion of the spent bullet or object scanned. The system of thatinvention then uses the function obtained from the scanning path toobtain an optimal imaging path. What the initial scanning path amountsto then is a function of the contour of the outside surface scanned.

The practice of the '717 patent can easily be incorporated into thepractice of the current invention. The function obtained in the initialscan according to the practice of the '106 patent can be mapped to thefirst annular ring 24 so it provides an outline of the contours of thesurface of the object scanned. Then as those portions of the scannedarea are imaged, the imaged areas can be designated on the first annularring 24, Often, the spent bullets obtained at a crime scene are deformedor are fragments. This results from the fact that the bullets or bulletsare most often made of lead or brass which shatter or become deformed tosome extent on impact after being shot. FIG. 14A depicts a portion of adeformed bullet being scanned to create the mathematical function of thescanning path. Optical imaging device 63 scans bullet fragment 131 as itrotates about on axis 142. Axis 142 is perpendicular to the plane of thepaper and forms the rotational axis of a spent bullet holding androtating device. FIG. 8 schematically depicts the various major parts ofthe system. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,379,106 and 5,390,108 already incorporatedby reference herein go into specific detail on various related aspectsthe systems and devices used.

As can be seen in FIG. 14A the spent bullet 131 only has two relativelyintact LEAs over the surface being scanned LEA 137 and 139. spent bullet131 has two LEA's partially intact 138 and 140. FIG. 14B depicts theinterface 143 with the function of the scan obtained from spent bullet131 mapped to the periphery of annular ring 145. As can be seen, intactLEA's 137A and 139A appear thereon. Partial LEA's 138A and 140A alsoappear thereon. That portion of the spent bullet missing is indicated bydashed line 144. Also, x's 146 indicate a significant departure of thecircumference of the spent bullet from its original shape as a result ofits deformation. FIG. 14C depicts the interface 143 after successfulimage acquisition of the LEA's. Images as indicated by the hatched linesat 137T, 138B, 139B and 140B indicate the successful image acquisition.Any number of options exist for indicating on the display successfulimaging of LEA's including color coding.

Although, in some aspects the present invention could be implemented onan electromechanical system, in the preferred embodiment, it isimplemented on a programmable computer. Specifically, a programmabledigital computer system is used in the preferred embodiment. In the last10 to 20 years progress in the development of programmable digitalcomputers has been astounding. Computer hardware, has in fact, become acommodity and now software in a sense has become a commodity. Thoseskilled in the art, on reading the proceeding disclosure, will know thatby using standard software writing techniques as well as availablesoftware modules appropriate software programs can be prepared toimplement the invention as described herein without the need for anyexperimentation. In fact the present invention could be implemented in avariety of software languages i.e. C, Unix etc. Additionally, it couldbe written to operate on a variety of operating systems includingWindow®D, Windows NT®, Unix based operating systems etc. Since there isnothing unique about the software necessary to implement the presentinvention no detailed source code is included. For example, the softwarenecessary to generate a signal when an operator touches button 32E FIG.1 to cause workpiece, in this case, an image, 45 to move it can bewritten any number of different ways to accomplish the result. Thus, ina sense the means for movement of the workpiece is in fact generic andpro forma. The same could be said of all of the other software necessaryto run and control the operation of the concept of the presentinvention.

Regarding the mechanical and other techniques for the focusing of theimaging device, positioning of the work piece etc., these are generallygeneric and well known to those skilled in the art. The exceptions beingthose concepts claimed in the various patents which have been citedherein and incorporated by reference herein.

FIG. 15 provides an operative view of the system and its functionalstates. The interface 173 and mode selection device 176 would appear onthe screen in an operator input window 203 in the preferred embodiment.Initial operator input to the mode selection device 176 selects one ofthe two available operating modes either an image acquisition or animage analysis mode. For example if an operator selects the imageacquisition mode using pointing device 43 by inputting to mode selectiondevice 176 this in turn transmits a mode selection signal 186 to thecentral signal and control unit 171. The operator then with pointingdevice 43 applies input to the interface device 173 which results ingeneration of a workpiece operative signal 183 which prompts the centralsignal and control unit 171 to transmit an object positioning signal 184to the object holding and movement device 174. The workpiece being boththe object being imaged in real time as well as the image of the objectwhich would appear on the screen 61 which would make up part of theimage acquisition means. The object imaging device 63 transmits thefocused image to image acquisition and movement device 175, anappropriate combination of hardware and software. Image acquisition andmovement device 175 transmits the Viewed image in real time to screen 61as wall as saving the selected image to image storage 197. Many of theseaspects have been discussed in detail above. If the operator selects theimage analysis mode through input with a pointing device 43 to the modeselection device 176 it generates mode selection signal 186 to centralsignal and control unit 171. Then operator input to the interface 173with pointing device 43 results in generation of operative signal 183 tocentral signal and control unit 171 which then transmits image movementsignal 185 to image movement device 175 for movement of the image onscreen 61.

As can be seen with FIG. 15A the interface device 173 in the preferredembodiment consists of four different parts: the first annular control173A, second annular control 173B, third annular control 173C andincremental rotational control 173D. Operator input to each results ingeneration by each of their respective operative signals 183A, 183B,183C and 183D for movement of the workpiece. The work piece being theimage of an object or the image and the object imaged. Depending on themode selected through mode selection device 176 by selection of 176A or176B the central signal and control unit 171 would generate the objectpositioning signal 184 or the image positioning signal 185. As notedabove in detail each of the parts of interface 173 would generate anoperative signal which would initiate a specific type of movement in theworkpiece as follows: the first annular control 173A would causerotational motion of the workpiece, the second annular control 173Bwould cause small translation moves in the workpiece, the third annularcontrol 173C would cause large translational moves in the workpiece andthe incremental rotational control 173D, the two central buttons 37 and39 in FIG. 1, would rotate in small movements. The image acquisitionmode as noted in detail above has a sub-mode in which the surfaceprofile of an object is mapped to the periphery of the first annularcontrol means. The term mapping meaning the outside periphery of thefirst annular shape is changed to resemble the surface contours of theobject imaged. Also, as described above in detail the image analysismode in a certain aspect of its operation has three sub-operatingstates.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may bemade to it without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:
 1. An interface apparatus having a command and control mechanism for manipulating a workpiece positionable by movement means, said apparatus comprising: a programmable computer with a visual display; a first annular control means responsive to operator input for generating a rotational control signal for rotating said workpiece within a common reference frame; a second annular control means responsive to operator input for generating a translational motion control signal for movement of said workpiece within the common reference frame; and such movement allowing the operator to position the workpiece for at least one of the following imaging, analysis and comparison, wherein the workpiece is both an object and an image of said object and said programmable computer is in functional communication with an imaging device and an object positioning device, the imaging device being placed in relation to the object positioning device such that upon operator input, applied through said interface, the programmable computer can generate the necessary control signal to position the object held by the object positioning device in a focal plane of the object imaging device so that the imaging device can focus on the object and transmit to the programmable computer for display on the visual display the image of that object so obtained.
 2. The interface apparatus of claim 1 which fierier comprises a third annular control means for generating a translational motion control signal, for movement of the workpiece within the reference frame, wherein the control signal generated by the second annular control means moves the workpiece in small increments and the signal generated by the third annular control means moves the workpiece in large increments.
 3. The interface apparatus of clam 1 wherein the two annular control means are concentric so that they share a common center.
 4. The interface apparatus of claim 3 which further comprises, at the common center of the first and second concentric annular control means, at least two actionable buttons, the first button when activated rotates the work piece in a clockwise direction and the second button when activated, rotates the work piece in a counterclockwise direction.
 5. The interface apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second annular control means is segmented into four equal arcs, with each arc forming a separate button for directed motion, which on individual activation of each button generates a control signal for movement of the workpiece on a vector in a direction which is radially away from a common center of the arcs and normal to a tangent at a center of a peripheral outside edge of the arc so activated, the arcs being so positioned that the direction of a vector of any one arc is perpendicular to the direction of vectors of the two adjacent arcs when each is activated by operator input, and 180 degrees from the direction of a vector of an arc on the opposite side of the common center of the arcs when activated by operator input.
 6. The interface apparatus of claim 5 wherein the interface includes a third annular control means, also segmented into four equal arcs, each arc so formed being paired with an arc of the second annular control means so that the paired area form two buttons for movement of the workpiece along a vector in the same direction, one of the arcs of each pair providing for small incremental movements of the workpiece and the other arc of each pair providing for large incremental movements of the workpiece.
 7. The interface apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control signal generated by operator input at a selected spot on the second annular control means moves the workpiece within the common reference frame in a direction of a vector radially away from a common center of the second annular control means and normal to a tangent line formed at the closest point on an outside periphery of the annular control means to the selected spot on the second annular control means activated by operator input.
 8. The interface apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first annular control means can be switched between a first operational state wherein it rotates the object and a second operational state wherein contours of a surface of the object can be mapped to an outside periphery of the first annular control means so that a representation of the contours of the surface of the object appears on the outside periphery of the first annular control means.
 9. The interface apparatus of claim 8 wherein the second operation state maps those portions of the contours of the object which have been successfully imaged and stored in a memory by the programmable computer.
 10. The interface apparatus of claim 9 wherein the object imaged is a spent bullet and the first annular control means of the interface apparatus in the second operational state displays on its outside periphery contours of land engraved areas of the bullet successfully imaged and stored by the programmable computer in a memory.
 11. The interface apparatus of claim 1 wherein the workpiece is an image of a reference object and an image of a test object and the programmable computer can simultaneously display on the visual display an image of a test object and an image of a reference object and operator input applied through the interface can switch the programmable computer between three different image analysis states, a first state for manipulating the image of the test object, a second state for manipulating the image of the reference object and a third state for manipulating the combined images of the test object and the reference object.
 12. The interface apparatus of claim 11 wherein when the interface is in the third state, the image of the test object and the reference object are joined together on the visual display in an overlapping configuration with the visible portions of the image of the reference object and the image of the test object separated by a line of separation, the line of separation being manipulated by operator input means.
 13. The interface apparatus of claim 12 wherein operator input to manipulate the line of separation, while the interface is in the third state, causes the line of separation to rotate about a central point, which as it rotates it successively reveals different portions of the overlapped images of the test object and the image of the reference object so that the operator can compare and analyze them.
 14. The interface apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first annular control means has an operator actionable marker, which marker as the operator moves it around the first annular ring generates the signal which causes the workpiece to rotate in the same direction through the same angular distance as the marker is moved by the operator on the first annular control means.
 15. The interface apparatus of claim 1 wherein the operator activates the interface with a pointing device.
 16. The interface apparatus of claim 15 wherein the pointing device is taken from one of the group consisting of: a mouse, track ball, touch pad, light pen and PC styles.
 17. The interface apparatus of claim 1 wherein the operator activities the various parts of the interface with a touch sensitive screen.
 18. In a computer system, a method for manipulating objects and images comprising the steps of: generating an actionable interface for a visual display with at least two annular control means: the first annular control means, when activated, generates a control signal of rotational motion which rotates a workpiece within a reference frame, the second annular control means, when activated, generates a control signal of translational motion which moves the workpiece within the reference frame; moving a workpiece within the reference frame to a desired location in that reference frame, with the control signal of translational motion generated by activating the second annular control means; rotating the workpiece within the reference frame to a desired angular orientation with the control signal of rotational motion generated by activating the first annular control means; conducting at least one of the following imaging, analysis and comparison; and switching between two operating modes, a first mode for image acquisition and a second mode for image analysis, comparison and manipulation.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of generating the interface further comprises the step of generating the first and second annular control means such that they are concentric and thus share a common center.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of generating the interface further comprises: generating a third annular control means which shares the common center with the first and second annular control means and wherein activation of the third annular control means generates a signal of translational motion which moves the workpiece in large increments and the signal of translational motion generated by activation of the second annular control means moves the workpiece in small increments.
 21. The method of claim 18 wherein generating the interface further comprises the step of the interface and the workpiece sharing a common reference frame.
 22. The method of claim 18 wherein generation of a control signal by operator input at a selected spot on the second annular control means moves the workpiece in the direction of a vector pointing radially away from a center of the second annular control means and normal to a line tangent to a point on an outside circumference of the second annular control means which point is the closest point on the outside periphery to the selected spot.
 23. The method of claim 18 wherein in the step of generating the interface comprises: segmenting the second annular control means into four equal arcs which share a common center, with each arc forming a separate button for directed motion, which on individual activation of each button generates a control signal for movement of the workpiece on a vector in a direction which is radially away from the common center of the arcs, said vector being normal to the center of the peripheral outside edge of the arc so activated, the arcs being so positioned that the direction of the vector of any one arc being perpendicular to the direction of the vectors of the two adjacent arcs and 180 degrees from the direction of the vector of the arc on the opposite of the common center.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of generating the interface further comprises generating a third concentric annular control means which shares the common center with the second annular control means, the third annular control means being segmented into four equal arcs, each arc so formed by the third annular control means being paired with an arc of the second annular control means so that the paired arcs form two buttons for movement of the workpiece along a vector in the same direction, one of the arcs of each pair providing for small incremental movements of the workpiece and the other arc of each pair providing for large incremental movements of the workpiece.
 25. The method of claim 24 wherein generating the interface further comprises generating two buttons at the common center of the annular control means, one of said buttons upon operator activation rotates the workpiece in a clockwise direction and the other button on operator activation rotates the workpiece in a counterclockwise direction.
 26. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of operating in the first operating mode comprises manipulating with the interface a workpiece which is both an object and an image of that object, the image of the object so manipulated appearing on the visual display.
 27. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of operating in the second operating mode comprises the workpiece being an image of a reference object and an image of a test object and simultaneously displaying on the visual display the image of the test object and the image of the reference object, and the further step of switching the interface in the second operating mode between three different states, a first state for manipulating the image of the test object, a second state for manipulating the image of the reference object and a third state for manipulating a combined image of the test object and the reference object.
 28. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of operating in the first operating mode comprises the step of selecting one of two different states to operate in: a first state for acquisition of an image of a cartridge case and a second state for acquisition of images of the land engraved areas of a spent bullet.
 29. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of operating in the second state includes the step of mapping to the first annular control means a representation of each land engraved area successfully imaged.
 30. The method of claim 29 wherein, the step of the second state imaging the land engraved areas, further comprises the step of a third state mapping contours of the object imaged to the first annular control means.
 31. The method of claim 29 comprising the step of entering the third state before entering the second state. 